USA Archives - Page 19 of 68 - ETB Travel Photography

Camas Prairie – Centennial Marsh WMA

Camas Prairie – Centennial Marsh WMA is a high prairie, seasonally-flooded wetland. It is best known for it Camas Lily bloom that occurs in late May to early June.

I called the regional office to find out about the bloom, dogs and hiking trails. The young lady didn’t know much about dogs and hiking trails. She replied, “Yes, I think they are allowed, and I think there are some trails.”

In regards to the Camas Lily, she said, “They are supposed to peak in 3 or 4 days, but it is not a super bloom. They are just average this year.”

FIND THE FLOWERS

Three Early Season Hikes in Sun Valley

Well, I had hoped to write about four early season hikes in Sun Valley, but the East Fork of the North Fork of the Wood River was in such bad condition, that I won’t burden you with scrambling over a forest of fallen trees.

That said, I did find three early season hikes in Sun Valley that are worth taking. All have a moderate difficulty and range from four to six miles, give or take.

GO HIKING!

Top Things To Do in Sun Valley

The History of Sun Valley

Sun Valley is a small city located in Blaine County, Idaho. But the term “Sun Valley” is more widely used to describe the surrounding region including the Sun Valley Resort, the ski areas of Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain, the nearby City of Ketchum, and the Wood River Valley which extends to Hailey and Bellevue. It became popular in the 1930’s when the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Gary Cooper frequented the area.

Prior to tourism, the area was a thriving mining and smeltering community. After mining operations subsided, the area turned to sheep herding. With the arrival of the railroad, the Sun Valley resort opened, and the area has been catering to tourists ever since.

I only spent a limited amount of time in Sun Valley and the surrounding area ten years ago while on a yearlong road trip in VANilla. I have now returned in VANgo and really enjoyed staying in and exploring the area.

EXPLORE!

Happy Hiking: Murdock Creek Trail

The Murdock Creek Trail is a 6.3 mile hike located in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA). In fact, hikers drive right by the SNRA office at the turn off to the trail on Forest Road 146.

SNRA Office and Murdock Creek Trailhead

The office was closed due to COVID when I visited, but there are still many trail maps and other useful information about the area in the foyer. If it is open, you can see a variety of animals on display such as a wolf, fox, and badger.

Forest Road 146 is dirt, but easily passable by passenger car. The Murdock Creek Trailhead is a little over a mile down the road and on a spur to the right.

HAPPY HIKING

Happy Hiking: Taylor Canyon Loop

When I saw the trailhead to Taylor Canyon Loop was located of Lake Creek Road, I was immediately disappointed. This was the first road on which I scouted for campsites when I arrived in Ketchum. I found the sites, simply cut into the sagebrush valley without a tree, quite unappealing.

Taylor Canyon Loop

Distance: 4.2 miles
Type: Moderate, loop
Elevation Gain: 1,263 ft
Other: Dogs Allowed
All Trails Link

Fortunately, the 4.4 mile Taylor Canyon Loop Trail, located in the Sawtooth National Forest, does not meander through the sun soaked valley. Instead, it climbs up the canyon through a forested area. In the morning, the contrasting shadows on the hillside and sunlight beaming through the shimmering aspen is beautiful sight.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Oregon Gulch Trail

A Day in Boise

After spending Saturday morning in Boise riding my ebike on the Boise River greenbelt through the parks, strolling around the capitol, browsing the Freak Alley Gallery and visiting the Anne Frank memorial, I attended to some chores, including washing my clothes as well as VANgo. Thereafter, I slowly made my way to Mountain Home.

EXPLORE

Things to Do in Idaho City

Idaho City, located in the Boise Basin off Highway 21 just 40 miles from Boise, is a historic mining town. Gold was discovered nearby at Grimes Creek in 1862. By 1863, Congress established the Idaho Territory, and Idaho City was the county seat of Boise County.

Over the next two years, the population in Idaho City soared. With more than 6,000 people, it became the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, larger than Portland. The gold strike ultimately produced 3,000,000 ounces which is worth almost a billion dollars at current gold prices.

The mining town suffered several fires and of course the demise of the gold rush. Now, however, it caters to tourists over the summer. As a result, there are plenty of things to do in Idaho City for a day or weekend.

EXPLORE!

Happy Hiking: Adelmann Mine

Of the hikes I’ve done in Idaho this week, Adelmann Mine might be my favorite thus far. I debated about driving half-way back to Boise from Idaho City to hike this trail located right off Highway 21.

I wasn’t sure I wanted another desert hike, nor did I want to go closer to Boise where there would likely be more hikers. But, a mine hike would be a change of pace from the others I’ve done, so I settled on the short 30 minute drive to the trailhead.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Charcoal Gulch

In the last several weeks, I have done a lot of desert hiking. I wanted to change it up, so after heading to Idaho City, I found a hike in the woods at Charcoal Gulch.

The directions on AllTrails were a little confusing. They took me through the historic mining town of Idaho City to a dead end in a residential section. After taking a slight detour, it indicated the parking was behind an apartment complex and there were about two spots available. This parking was at Buena Vista Trail.

HAPPY HIKING!

Happy Hiking: Homestead Trail

Many people have asked me how I decide where to go while on my road trip in VANgo. Generally speaking, I’m going in search of 70 degree weather, wildflowers, and fall color in autumn. Today, in the second week of May, I found those wildflowers at Homestead Trail.

Homestead Trail is located only 7 miles from Boise in the Boise National Forest, better known as the Boise foothills on the outskirts of the city. The trailhead is found in a residential neighborhood. The area very much reminded me of the foothills surrounding Golden, CO, though not as crowded.

HAPPY HIKING!